San Joaquin County Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
MRS. ELIZA J. HUNTER.
It is interesting to chronicle the life history of the pioneer women who
in their prime entered the wilderness, braving the perils of savage beast and
who endured the hardship and privation incident to the conquering of the virgin
soil they claimed as their heritage. Such a worthy character is found in the
story of the life of the late Mrs. Eliza J. Hunter, who was born in County Down,
Ireland, August 31, 1839.
She was reared at the country home of her parents in Ireland, her
education being obtained in the local schools of her native land. Her father,
Joseph Magill, was also born in County Down, Ireland, and his father, Thomas
Magill, was born in Scotland; he, in turn, was a son of Lord Magill of Scotland,
who fought for the freedom of Scotland, and during the reign of Cromwell left
his native heath with his family for Ireland, settling in County Down, where he
could have religious freedom. Thomas Magill was a farmer in Ireland and a very
ardent Presbyterian, observing very strictly the discipline of the church, and
insisting on each member of the family observing the Sabbath Day. This same
religious zealousness was adhered to by his son, Joseph, and his descendants.
Mrs. Hunter's mother was Jennie Mateer, also born in County Down, of Scotch
parentage.
In 1865 Eliza J. Magill came to America with her sister and
brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Douglass, and in 1868 she arrived in San
Francisco. Miss Magill had two cousins, Mrs. Johnston and Mr. McKee at San
Andreas, Calaveras County, and to their respective homes she went to visit.
On June 8, 1868, at Murphys, she was married to Anthony Hunter, with
whom she passed a happy married life of almost twenty-three years. Immediately
after her marriage she took up her residence and duties on the frontier farm of
her husband; here she aided him in his ambition, and they became very
successful, accumulating a large acreage. Their only daughter, Jennie Mateer
Hunter, was the pride and light of their home, and after the father's death the
two lived together and managed the large affairs bequeathed them by Mr. Hunter,
and were inseparable in their companionship.
Mrs. Hunter lived twenty-four years and seven months after her husband's
passing away, retaining her faculties unimpaired until her death, September 14,
1915. A woman highly honored and beloved, she was a devout member of the First
Presbyterian Church of Stockton; by her simple, earnest, and Christian life she
left an influence for good in the community and was indeed a great benefactor.
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co.,
1923
p 442
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.